Mouthpiece and double ended reed for wind musical instruments



J. TOPOR Feb. 9, 1937.

MOUTHPIECE AND DOUBLE ENDED REED FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed April 15, 1955 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jacob Tenor, Wheeling, W. Va.

Application April 15,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a mouth-piece and double ended reed for wind musical instruments, such as clarinets, Saxophones and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mouth-piece of wind musical instruments, such as clarinets, saxophones and the like, wherein the lay of the mouth-piece that embodies a flat face for the reception of the reed is provided with a side shoulder constituting a guide or abutment for one side edge of the reed to facilitate placement of the reed on the lay of the mouthpiece.

A further and important object of the invention is to provide a double ended reed for the mouth-piece of a wind musical instrument of the foregoing character with a guard associated with the mouth-piece for the protection of the inactive reed end.

A further object of the invention is to provide an insert composed of a phenolic condensation product, such as Bakelite in the inclined face of the tip end of the mouth-piece for tooth contact and to eliminate contact of the teeth with the metal of the mouth-piece.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrange- 30 ment of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a mouthpiece constructed in accordance with the present invention with the wind instrument, such as a clarinet, or saxophone with which the mouthpiece is associated, illustrated by dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the mouthpiece and reed guard with the reed removed;

Figure 3 shows bottom plan views of a mouthpiece and guard separated;

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the mouth-piece and guard with a reed in position therein and illustrating the inactive end of the reed confined in the guard;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mouth-piece showing a Bakelite insert in the inclined face of the mouth-piece; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partly in section of another form of mouth-piece and attached reed guard.

In wind musical instruments, such as clarinets, saxophones and the like wherein a reed consti- 1935, Serial No. 16,490

tutes a part of the mouth-piece, the life of the reed is from four to six playing hours and should the musician be unable to obtain a replacement reed for immediate use, the double ended reed forming a part of this invention with the inactive end of the reed projected by a guard may have such inactive end immediately placed in service without loss of time. Considerable dihiculty is also experienced by some musicians in the placement of the reed on the lay of the mouth-piece the guard shoulder at one side of the lay facilitates the correct placement of the reed.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the reference character Ill designates the mouth-piece of a wind musical instrument, such as c1arinets,saxophones and the like, one end of the mouth-piece having a tubular bearing I I to be received on the tubular end portion of the wind musical instrument 12 indicated by dotted lines in Figure l. The mouth-piece i is of the usual tapering form with an inclined end face i3 and a fiat lay l4 having the side opening l over which a reed is placed. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a longitudinally extending abutment shoulder i6 is disposed at one side of the lay M between the bearing H and adjacent end of the lateral opening l5 and this shoulder [6 may be placed at either side of the lay.

The double ended reed as shown in Figure 4 comprises a central body portion I! with tapering reed ends 58, the central body portion I? being adapted for placement on the lay [4 with one reed end [8 overlying the lateral opening [5 of the mouth-piece While the other reed end l8 projects outwardly of the bearing end ll of the mouthpiece.

A guard is provided for the inactive reed end It? and comprises an annulus or ring l0 adapted to be engaged with the tubular hearing I l of the mouth-piece in inclosing relation and frictionally retained thereon. A U-shaped guard plate comprisin side legs and 2! has the end 22 of the 2e secured in any suitable manner to the outer face of the ring 19 and the inactive end l3 of the double ended reed is received between the legs 28 and El of the U-shaped guard. A ligature 23 of the conventional type including tightening screws 24 surrounds the mouth-piece it and body portion ll of the double ended reed for anchoring the reed in position on the mouthpiece.

As shown in Figures 1, 4 and 6, the inclined face 13 of the mouth-piece has a Bakelite insert 25 therein that is retained by rivets 26 flush with the face of the Bakelite guard. The Bakelite insert 25 eliminates contact of the teeth of the musician with any metal parts of the mouthpiece.

In placing a reed on the mouth-piece, the ligature 23 is removed and the reed placed on the lay M with one side edge thereof engaged with the guide shoulder it, after which, the reed may be slid longitudinally of the lay to position the free vibrating end of the reed end 18 in proper relation to the tip of the mouth-piece. The inactive reed end Ilia is confined within the guard and protected thereby and should the reed end in use become damaged or otherwise impaired, the inactive end of the reed may be placed in service without loss of time. The double ended reed can be produced at an expense slightly more than the single reed and oiiers double service.

A standard type of mouth-piece I Eia of the form in general use is illustrated in Figure 7 and the type of guard for use with this mouth-piece and in connection with a double ended reed has the supporting ring it removed, the end 22a of the leg 20a oi the U-shaped guard that also in cludes the leg 2 la, is anchored by means of the set screw l9a to the tubular end lid of the mouthpiece, the guard being in line or in the plane of the lay of the mouth-piece iiia.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent and While there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a mouth piece and reed guard for musical wind instruments, wherein the mouth piece has a lay, wherein a double ended reed is mounted on the lay with the inactive end of the reed projecting backwardly of the mouth piece and overlying the adjacent connected end of the instrument, and wherein a ligature is provided for retaining the reed in position on the lay, a guard for the projecting end of the reed carried by the end of the mouth piece connected to the instrument and having a return bent portion confining the projecting end of the reed.

2. In a mouth piece and reed guard for musical wind instruments, wherein the mouth piece has a lay, wherein a double ended reed is mounted on the lay with the inactive end of the reed projecting backwardly oi the mouth piece and overlying the adjacent connected end of the instrument, and wherein a ligature is provided for retaining the reed in position on the lay, a guard for the projecting end of the reed removably attached to the end of the mouth piece connected to the instrument and having a return bent portion confining the projecting end of the reed.

3. In a mouth piece and reed guard for musical Wind instruments, wherein the mouth piece has a lay, wherein a double ended reed is mounted on the lay with the inactive end of the reed projecting backwardly of the mouth piece and overlying the adjacent connected end of the instrument, and wherein a ligature is provided for retaining the reed in position on the lay, a guard for the projecting end of the reed having a return bent portion confining the projecting end of the reed and a ring member at one end of the guard removably mounted on the end of the mouth piece adjacent the instrument.

4. Ina mouth piece and reed guard for musical wind instruments, wherein the mouth piece has a lay, wherein a double ended reed is mounted on the lay with the inactive end of the reed projecting backwardly of the mouth piece and overlying the adjacent connected end of the instrument, and wherein a ligature is provided for retaining the reed in position on the lay, a guard for the projecting end of the reed having a return bent portion confining the projecting end of the reed and a plate at one end of the guard for attachment to the mouth piece laterally thereof and adjacent the connected end of the instrument.

JACOB TOE-OR. 

